Media Release: UC Best Essay Award – Nick Thistleton

University of Canberra student, Nick Thistleton, presented with the Award by RDA ACT Committee members

Regional Development Australia (RDA) ACT is a proud sponsor of University of Canberra’s Strategic Planning Best Essay Award.

RDA ACT would like to congratulate the award winner for 2017 Nick Thistleton for his comprehensive essay which presented a strategic plan for the Northbourne Avenue City Corridor in Canberra, spanning from the Canberra’s city centre through to EPIC.

This is the eighth year RDA ACT has sponsored the annual prize, which began in 2010.

RDA ACT Chairman said, “RDA ACT is proud to support UC’s endeavours to provide the education that will give students, like Nick, opportunities to enhance Canberra’s development, and to build a fulfilling career in such an important space”.

The proposed strategic plan contained five key objectives, each with their own backgrounds, strategies, actions and monitoring proposals, these included:

Build upon existing economic and spatial potential,

Enhance access within and to the city,

Improve sustainability within the corridor,

Provide affordable and diverse housing opportunities, and

Provide a model that is befitting of the gateway.

“The plan aimed to support existing centres such as Dickson and Braddon by focusing development around them, and better connecting them to each other through active transport and light rail”, says Nick Thistleton.

“Other key focuses of the report included sustainability, public and green space, and diverse and affordable housing.”

“The plan proposes a variety of different methods and broad criteria monitoring its implementation to better adapt to changing conditions.”

Nick is currently studying full time in his third year of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Canberra. Nick is also working part time for the Department of Human Services.

“Urban and regional planning is a course that I find very interesting, particularly in regards to the role of governance in strategic and sustainable planning, as well as the delivery of affordable and diverse housing,” Nick said.

RDA ACT congratulates Nick on winning the 2017 award, and wishes him every success in his planning career.